Israeli Attorney General Opposes Police Investigation Law, Warns of Political Interference
The Israeli Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has formally opposed the new Police Investigations Department (Machash) law, which the coalition advanced despite legal advisories. She submitted her response to the Supreme Court on July 28, 2026, urging the court to freeze the law’s implementation, warning it is politically motivated and could harm police officers, prosecutors, and journalists.
The law restructures the Police Investigations Department by detaching it from the State Prosecutor’s Office and placing it under the Ministry of Justice, with leadership appointed by a politically influenced committee. Baharav-Miara cautioned that this setup risks turning investigations into political tools, undermining the independence and fairness essential for law enforcement. She highlighted the creation of a new position, the "Supervisor," with broad powers to delay or halt criminal investigations at their sole discretion.
Dr. Guy Luria, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the law’s potential to compromise the independence of investigations, especially those involving public officials, thereby weakening anti-corruption efforts and public trust in the police. He warned that citizens might ultimately receive inadequate investigative responses.
The law also expands the department’s authority to investigate leaks, including summoning journalists to reveal their sources, a move seen as threatening press freedom. Recent pressure on the Shin Bet chief to investigate Channel 12 leaks illustrates how the law could normalize such practices. The law’s sponsor, MK Moshe Saada, dismissed the Attorney General’s objections as personal and insisted the new department would be led by a principled individual ensuring no immunity for lawbreakers.
The Supreme Court is expected to review petitions against the law, with the Attorney General seeking a suspension of its enforcement pending judicial review.
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